GaydarNation

One of the UK’s more conservative holdouts to the gay pride explosion could be splattered in colour next summer if plans for Cumbria’s first-ever gay and lesbian Mardi Gras are given the go ahead.

Plans are being drawn up to close off city streets in Carlisle to allow thousands of people from the gay community can take part in the flamboyant festival. Organizers say it’s the latest effort in a bid to break down barriers and alleviate social exclusion of the gay community.

Estimates have nearly 40,000 gays and lesbians — nearly 10-percent of the population — living in Cumbria. But according to sources at Cumbria’s Gay and Lesbian Centre, many of those people are too afraid to admit their sexuality.

More established and notoriously accepting communities such as Manchester and Newcastle attract gays and lesbians with their nightlife, but Cumbria is known for having a violence problem.

However, business partners Maureen Todhunter and Steven Donaldson, who run a gay-friendly Carlisle pub, The Whitehouse, want to change the perception people have toward the gay community by taking the message onto the streets.

Todhunter told BBC Online that they are determined to hold the one-day carnival next summer and have received backing from Cumbria Police, keen to support an event which could help reduce hate crimes.

"Carlisle desperately needs something like this. Hopefully it will get rid of the prejudice which exists in Carlisle,” Toddhunter said.

“Lots of other UK cities have a gay pride march so it’s about time Carlisle had one too. It will be similar to gay pride events in bigger cities except it will be on a smaller scale"

Sergeant Chris Wickwar, from Cumbria Police’s community safety department said their only concern would be policing such an event.

“But we would support it because hopefully it would help break down barriers,” he added.